JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With the 2026 softball season approaching, the ASUN Conference announced its preseason awards Wednesday afternoon, with Eastern Kentucky earning representation on the Preseason All-ASUN Team and a second-place finish in the league's preseason coaches poll.

Kennedy Drafton was named to the Preseason All-ASUN Team as an infielder following a standout sophomore campaign in 2025. Drafton earned First Team All-ASUN honors last season and added CSC Academic All-District recognition to her resume after previously being named to the ASUN All-Freshman Team in 2024.

Starting all 53 games for the Colonels in 2025, Drafton emerged as one of the most complete offensive performers in the conference, batting .356 with a .489 on-base percentage and a .610 slugging percentage. She totaled 52 hits, including 10 doubles and nine home runs, while driving in 45 runs and scoring 52 times, the second-most in the ASUN. Defensively, Drafton posted a .957 fielding percentage, recording 87 putouts and 67 assists while helping turn seven double plays during the season.

Eastern Kentucky was picked second in the 2026 ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll after receiving 121 points. North Florida was selected as the preseason favorite with 144 points and 12 first-place votes, followed by Central Arkansas with 112 points.

Last season, the Colonels finished 38–16 overall and 17–5 in ASUN play, capturing the Gold Division title before falling to North Florida in the ASUN Championship game.

Preseason Player of the Year: Addie Graham, Central Arkansas

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Brie Howard, Austin Peay

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Kalyn McCarthy, North Florida

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Emily Simon, North Alabama and Alivia Wilken, North Alabama
 

Preseason All-ASUN Team

Name                         Pos.             School

Emily Simon                 P                North Alabama

Alivia Wilken                P                 North Alabama

Maddox Thomas         C                 FGCU

Kiley Hinton                 IF                Austin Peay

Kaitlyn Graham           IF                Central Arkansas

Kennedy Drafton        IF                 EKU

Briley Dover                IF                 North Alabama

Brie Howard               OF               Austin Peay

Addie Graham           OF                Central Arkansas

Olivia Black                OF                FGCU

Amber Chumley        UT/DP          Stetson
 

Preseason Coaches Poll

Pl. Team           (1st Place Votes) Points

1. North Florida (12)                      144

2. EKU                                              121

3. Central Arkansas                       112

4. Austin Peay                                106

5. FGCU                                            98

6. Stetson                                         85

7. North Alabama                            74

8. Lipscomb                                     65

9. Jacksonville                                 56

10. Queens                                       31

11. West Georgia                             26

12. Bellarmine                                  18